Scholarly types see lessons in boycott

Conventions join gay-rights debate

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Rally Against DOMA

Gay-rights supporters plan a march and rally to oppose the federal Defense of Marriage Act. They also plan to sign an open letter to President-elect Barack Obama urging him to repeal the legislation that defines marriage as a legal union between one man and one woman.

When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today

Where: County Administration Center, 1600 Pacific Highway, San Diego

Admission: Free

Fare: Speeches, live music, information

Several years ago, the Association of American Law Schools voted to hold its 2009 convention in San Diego, reserving meeting space and blocks of rooms at the Manchester Grand Hyatt and the San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina next door.

After developer Doug Manchester spent $125,000 to help Proposition 8, the voter-approved ballot initiative outlawing same-sex marriage in California, opponents of the proposition launched a boycott against his three hotels, including the Grand Hyatt.

Sympathetic to the cause but unwilling to break a contract, the law school group decided last summer to keep only the minimum number of rooms booked at the Grand Hyatt. They scheduled all receptions, discussions and registration events at the Marriott.

The five-day convention closes today, the same day that gay-rights supporters plan to march past the Manchester Grand Hyatt to oppose the federal Defense of Marriage Act.

“Institutional pluralism is a good thing for our students in the same way choices are good for consumers in other fields,” association President John Garvey wrote to members. “It may also contribute in an important way to a healthy intellectual life.”

Gay-rights activists may never have expected such lofty ideals when they launched their boycott against Manchester and other high-profile contributors to the Yes on 8 campaign. But some scholarly groups are sizing up the political landscape before choosing where to spend their convention cash.

This week in New York, the American Historical Association debated whether to keep its 2010 convention at the Manchester Grand Hyatt.

After much discussion, the historians decided it would be too costly to cancel their contract, but they added several workshops and special events to their agenda to raise awareness of equality issues.

Manchester declined to discuss the impact of the boycott, which has stretched into its seventh month. His top financial officer said months ago that the action could cost the company millions of dollars in business.

Kelly Commerford, the Hyatt's director of marketing, called the effect negligible. But he did note that more professional associations seem to be paying new attention to where they convene.

“There is an increased awareness amongst groups making sure they are doing business with companies that stand for equality,” he said. “And the Manchester Grand Hyatt stands for equality.”

Boycott organizers also targeted Terry Caster, whose family owns the A-1 Self Storage chain and gave almost $700,000 to Yes on 8. Caster did not return calls about the boycott.

In previous interviews, Manchester and Caster said their contributions to the Yes on 8 campaign were made strictly as private individuals.

Fred Karger of Californians Against Hate, the nonprofit that launched the boycotts, said they are having an effect.